Wangari Maathai was motivated by her childhood experiences in rural Kenya, where she witnessed the environmental degradation of her homeland. This early exposure to the connection between nature and community informed her advocacy for environmental activism. Her education, particularly in the U.S., deepened her understanding of global environmental issues, prompting her to establish the Green Belt Movement, which focused on reforestation and women's rights. Maathai's life work emphasized the interdependence of ecological sustainability and social justice, making her legacy vital in the fight against environmental and social injustices.